While the Ecuadorian people find themselves hungry and victims, as never before in history, of enormous insecurity that prevents them from living, producing and working in peace; the president is on the ropes and is being beheaded by a group of parliamentarians who, with the consent of six judges of the Constitutional Court, subjected him to a political trial for the alleged criminal offense of embezzlement. The interpellation procedure can last about sixty days. Meanwhile, employment is shrinking and violence continues to rise in streets and squares across the country.

When any citizen is accused of having committed a crime, the process leading up to the trial stage is very long. Research alone can take years. The vast majority of trials sleep in the cluttered files of prosecutor’s offices and courts. In addition, the defendant can appeal the verdict, so that he has a few more years to continue the lawsuit. And as long as there is no final verdict, his innocence is considered in accordance with Article 76 of the Constitution.

Therefore, the time required to prove the guilt of a person accused of committing a criminal offense is very elastic, and not when it comes to a first offender. For example, as this newspaper reported on April 8, 90% of the 179 corruption cases caused by the pandemic did not go beyond a previous investigation in three years; and, according to another report published by this morning’s paper this month, “the judge went almost 9 months without retrialing those accused of embezzlement, which occurred in 2008.” In other words, if the news is true, as it seems incredible, the delay would be as long as 15 years. This is the same crime that the National Assembly accuses President Guillermo Lasso of.

These are the 53 appearances the Oversight Commission is waiting to gather evidence in the political trial of President Guillermo Lasso

In the political process, unlike what happens when it comes to an ordinary crime, time passes so quickly that the evidence, whether sufficient or not, in an investigation that is carried out extremely quickly, can lead the accusers to remove the first president in one fell swoop. It is less important whether the defendant committed the crime for which he is charged or not, because the decision of 92 people in the National Assembly to behead him is sufficient.

In the political process, unlike… when it comes to ordinary crime, time passes so quickly…

This phenomenon is contrary to the principle contained in the Constitution itself, contained in Art. 11, number 2, by which we are all equal before the law and enjoy the same rights, duties and opportunities.

Therefore, we wonder what kind of equality we are talking about when, in the case of impeachment, the accused does not even have the privilege that ordinary criminals have to appeal the judge’s decision.

Neither is right. It would be necessary to correct this lack of syneresis in the institutional recovery procedures in Ecuador, which sometimes seems like a fragile boat in a stormy ocean that is about to sink. The will of a few is enough to change the president. (OR)